Main content

Joe Tasker and Shereen Cutkelvin team up with famous authors to prove anyone can write a story in 500 Words or less by taking inspiration from everyday objects.

The UK’s biggest children’s story-writing competition, 500 Words, is back for 2024!

To celebrate, presenters Joe Tasker and Shereen Cutkelvin take primary pupils inside a props warehouse, home to thousands of objects used to tell stories on stage, TV and in films.

With the help of 500 Words, judges Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Charlie Higson and Francesca Simon, along with a team of young storytellers, we’ll discover that even the most everyday object can inspire an epic story.

Author and actor Nathan Bryon shares his top tips on creating an interesting character and thrilling plot, and the 500 Words judges answer your questions live!

Following this Live Lesson, children will have all the tools to write their own 500 Words story and enter the competition, which opens on Tuesday 24 September and closes on Friday 8 November at 9pm.

Available now

28 minutes

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Joe Tasker
Presenter Shereen Cutkelvin
Interviewed Guest Francesca Simon
Interviewed Guest Charlie Higson
Interviewed Guest Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Director Martin Williams-Neale
Editor Simon Whyard
Executive Producer Jake Cassels
Producer Bjorn Booms
Production Manager Sophie Lanzetta
Series Producer Fay Hendry

Broadcast